West Texas A&M University

Vice Chancellor to Speak at WTAMU Commencement

CANYON, Texas—Dr. Frank Ashley, vice chancellor of recruitment and diversity with The Texas A&M University System, will serve as guest speaker when West Texas A&M University conducts its spring commencement exercises Saturday, May 11 at the First United Bank Center on campus.

The vice chancellor will speak twice: at the 10 a.m. commencement for students in the College of Agriculture, Science and Engineering, the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and again at the 3 p.m. commencement for students in the College of Business and the College of Education and Social Sciences. A total of 928 students have applied for spring graduation, including 724 undergraduates and 204 graduate students.

Ashley has spent more than 20 years in various positions with The Texas A&M University System. He took over the position of vice chancellor of recruitment and diversity in 2011 and advises the chancellor on issues relating to diversity and equal opportunity within the system. He also provides updates on proposals for new programs and works with the system’s diverse faculty, staff and students through the implementation of policies, practices and programs that support and promote their contributions.

His long tenure with the system began in 1986 when he joined the Texas A&M University faculty as an assistant professor and coordinator of the Sports Management Program in the Department of Health and Kinesiology. In 1996 Ashley was named associate dean for undergraduate studies and teacher education in TAMU’s College of Education. Between 1999 and 2004, he served as a project director for the Regents’ Initiative for Education, TAMU’s director of admissions and as interim assistant provost for enrollment.

Ashley moved to Texas A&M University—Commerce in 2004 to serve as dean of the school’s College of Education and Human Services and professor of health kinesiology and sports studies. He later served as interim provost and vice-president for academic and student affairs. In 2007 he was named the system’s vice chancellor of academic affairs, a position he held until taking over as the vice chancellor of recruitment and diversity in 2011.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1975 from Louisiana College and received both his master’s (1976) and his Ed.D. (1986) from the University of Alabama.

West Texas A&M University conducts three commencement ceremonies each year, in December, May and August.